Amahubo 49
1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,
Hear this, all ye peoples. Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels encompasses me about?
6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,
Those who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches,
7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,
none can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him
8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)
(for the redemption of their life is costly, and it fails forever),
9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.
that he should still live always, that he should not see corruption.
10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.
For he shall see it. Wise men die. The fool and the brutish alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.
Their inward thought is that their houses are forever, their dwelling-places to all generations. They call their lands after their own names.
12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.
Even a man in splendor does not abide. He is like the beasts that perish.
13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)
This their way is their folly. Yet after them men approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;
Be not thou afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,
Though while he lived he blessed his soul (and men praise thee, when thou do well for thyself),
19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.
A man who is in splendor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.
